The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-02
TWO DECoY LETTERS.
An Interesting Story of the Long Age
in Georgia.

An Interesting Story of the Long Ago
in Georgia.
j. s. JObson in Jacksonville (F1d.) NeDs- Herald.
The writer of this was postmaster at
Perry, Ca, for several years while the daily
line OF four-horse post-coaches was run from
Macon, Ga, to Tallahassee, Fla. 1t was
known as the Alligator line, and passed
through Perry for Macon at night. On one
occasion upon employing the letter pouch a
naked letter, over the average size, on fine
paper, without postmark to denote where it
was mailed. fell out. 1t was folded
in the old style-sealed with a wafer
and addressed in an elegant business
hand to the cashier of the Marine
Bank, Savannah, Ga. 1t was without a
wrap and felt as if it was filled with bank
bills. / thought and felt that the postmas-
ter who was so negligent and careless as to
put that letter in the mail in that way
should, if known, be reported and dismissed
from office. All could do was to wrap it
securely, which | did, and, addressing the
package to its destination, closed the mail
and delivered it to the driver. Several DAYS
passed, during which thoughts as TO why
and how that fat letter came about re-
Cured; and, although l said nothing about
it, it troubled me and / could not tell why.
One of the school boys came to the office
and handing me post bill from an office in
South to one in North Georgia, said
that he found it in the grove near the
academy. Here was another mystery.
How came that post bill out therel Had
the post office been robbed2 were suggestive
questions which, added to the fat letter
mystery, satisfied me that something was
wrong, and l determined to investigate.
Knowing that DR.. Allen, one of the stage
drivers, was honest, had an interview with
and informed him fully of the fat letter and
post-bill troubles. He was reticent and said
nothing until told him that had decided
and determined to report and ferret out the
whole matter. "Well now" said he. 81
think / can satisfy you as to how the post
bill got into the grove, and also how the fat
letter came in the mail pouch. The night you
say the letter was in the pouch stranger was
on the box with me. Just below town he
asked me for the mail bag, stating that he
was secret agent or detective of the Post
Office Department, exhibited his creden-
tials, and | delivered it to him. With a
key of his own he unlocked, opened the
pouch, and quickly slipped into il letter
or package, relocked and returned it to
me, enjolning strict silence and secrecy
After passing the Office and reaching the
grove, he again asked for the mail, and.
jumping to the ground with it, disappeared
in the dark. He returned in about half an
hour, gave me the pouch, mounted the
DoNs elli saul bilNt Uudb postmaster
is all right" Now you know there is and
has been much talk and complaint of crook
edneSs somewhere between Macon and Tai
lahassee, and doubtless they inteud to To-
cate the trouble and catch the offender.
The fat letter was a decoy, and used to
test you. The post bill was evidently lost
or dropped by the detective while looking
for the decoy. Now said my friend Allen
III was and am glad you are vindicated and
all right with the authorities at Washing
tom
In week or two the newspapers gave an
account of a postmaster being caught in
South Carolina by detective with a decoy
letter used in the same way And since
coming to Florida | have Formed the ac-
quaintance of the deputy postmaster at the
Office next to the one at which the crooked
postmaster was caught up with in South
Carolina, and knew all the circumstances
and alsc the captured official MY old
friend Allen was not an NJ. ID. but, as they
are now called, a veterinary surgeon, and a
good one. His explanation of the cause of
my anxiety as above stated satisfied me. |
trusted him afterward and found that my
confidence was not misplaced.